Ahead of her debut gig at London’s palace of pop, G-A-Y @ Heaven this weekend, Dom Top caught up with the current Angel of Pop, Charli XCX, for a chat about strippers, Sucker and breaking all the rules…
There’s a proper riot grrrl vibe to the new album ‘Sucker’. Very Courtney Love/Smashing Pumpkins/Veruca Salt, which is a departure from your previous album’s (True Romance) sound. What made you go in that direction?
It was very natural. I’d just been making some punk songs with my friend and his band Snuffed by the Yakuza in Sweden and it was just sort of a more pop but natural evolution from that. I wanted to do something raw.
There’s a video on your YouTube from when you set up a phone called the ‘Angel Phone’ for your fans, the ‘Angels’, to get in touch with you. What was the weirdest message you got on that? Aside from the delightful “what that mouth do though…?”
It was actually that one. I was so surprised. I thought I was going to get loads of abuse and hate and stuff because generally when you do things like that there are always crazy people who exploit it – but honestly, everybody was adorable.
We saw your performance of ‘Need Ur Love’ on David Letterman, standing atop a grand piano in a pair of huge glittery wedges and a silk slip. We’ve tried it ourselves a few times after a big night out and ended up going arse-over-tit onto the floor. Any mishaps in rehearsals?
So many! [Laughs] My legs were actually totally bruised for the performance and it hurt so much because I’d been constantly falling over for the past week.
Will we be seeing something similar at G-A-Y on the 24th? You could burst out of a drum or… Pop out of a tuba?
[Laughs] Maybe! I wanted to bring some strippers along – who knows…
You have Rose McGowan, star of 90’s classics like Doom Generation, Scream & Jawbreaker, featured in your video for ‘Break the Rules’. You’re a 90’s kid, so was that a massive coup for you?
Yeah, I asked her on the day and she just showed up and did it. She was cool. It was nice of her.
Rita Ora is on your latest UK single, ‘Doing It’. How did that come about?
I played her the song ages ago and she kind of fell in love with it – she wanted to sing it herself! It never really dawned on me that we could do it together, until we started hanging out and I just got her vibe and her personality.
Your track ‘Fancy’ with Iggy Azalea was pretty much the song of the summer and we’re still ‘kvelling’ over the Clueless-inspired vid. Which other teen flicks would you wanna remake in music video form? We vote Cruel Intentions!
Definitely The Craft! That would be my all-time favourite.
You’ve got a track on your album Sucker called ‘London Queen’, the title of which pretty much describes everyone working at QX. Where does the city’s reigning monarch (you) like to party?
It’s mainly house parties. I kind of just let the night take me wherever it wants to go. I always have a good time at G-A-Y, too. The R’n’B room is my favourite.
Can we make ‘London Queen’ our new QX Gay London theme tune? Pleeeease? Say yes and we’ll get you a drink after your show at G-A-Y! What’s your tipple?
Vodka! Or champagne! Or both!
Finally, what’s your favourite way to ‘Break the Rules’ (groan)?
Hahaha, ummmm… In school I used to flirt with teachers. That was fun.
• Charli XCX hits G-A-Y @ Heaven (Under the Arches, Villiers Street, Charing Cross, WC2N 6NG) on Saturday 24th January, 11pm-5am. £3 entry wristbands available at G-A-Y Bar.
